The EU 1.5° Lifestyles project has been working to engage citizens, students, policymakers, and local communities across Europe in a range of activities with the aim of inspiring sustainable, 1.5° living.
We have facilitated interactive Climate Puzzle workshops, which have provided participants with the opportunity to explore ways of reducing their carbon footprints through changes in key lifestyle areas such as food, housing, mobility, and leisure. We have been fortunate to hold these workshops in a number of different settings, including a Christian summer camp in Hungary, the Organic Market in A Coruña, Spain, and even a primary school in Potsdam, Germany (with the help of RIFS colleagues).
GreenDependent presenting the Climate Puzzle
GreenDependent, held several events, including a workshop at the Hungarian University of Sport Science and presentations at the 2024 eceee Summer Study in France, where insights from our Citizen Thinking Labs were shared. The University of A Coruña (UDC) engaged with local citizens and even children, as seen at Cullerciencia, a local science fair, where children were able to learn about sustainable lifestyles through our puzzle. At the Potsdam Science Day, RIFS team members had the opportunity to facilitate discussions on the structural changes that could be beneficial in supporting lifestyles that align with the 1.5°C goal. Additionally, RIFS colleagues also ran a Climate Puzzle workshop at a local school.
At the policy level, experts from the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE) at the University of Lund had the opportunity to present key findings to nearly 200 decision-makers during the Lund Sustainability Week in Sweden. This provided a valuable platform to highlight vital strategies for achieving demand reduction. These efforts demonstrate our commitment to mainstreamind 1.5° lifestyles, encouraging all age groups, sectors, and communities in this endeavour.
You can read more about each of these activities below:
Lund Sustainability Week with policy makers in Sweden
At an event in Lund, nearly 200 policymakers attended a presentation by IIIEE researchers on lifestyle strategies and their CO2 savings potential. The results emphasised the need for coordinated strategies in housing, mobility, food and leisure to achieve sustainability goals.
Read more here...Climate Puzzle workshop at Hungarian summer camp
GreenDependent ran a Climate Puzzle workshop at a Christian summer camp near Lake Balaton in Hungary. The young adults (aged 18-30) were highly engaged and, despite initial hesitation, discussed the feasibility of adopting a low-carbon lifestyle. The workshop stimulated lively debate and some participants expressed an interest in organising similar events at their universities.
Read more here...Potsdam Science Day 2024, Germany
The RIFS Potsdam team participated in the Potsdam Science Day, playing the Climate Puzzle with citizens and discussing structural enablers and barriers to achieving 1.5° lifestyles. The event attracted over 6,000 people, highlighting the project's outreach to the wider community.
Read more here...Citizen engagement at A Coruña's organic market in Spain
In partnership with A Coruña City Council, the UDC team ran an interactive Climate Puzzle workshop at an organic market to help local citizens explore sustainable lifestyle choices. The team will host another workshop in autumn 2024 to continue the dialogue on low-carbon living.
Read more here...Launch of Sweden's First National Citizens' Council on Climate Change
In March 2024, Sweden launched its first national citizens' council on climate change. Sixty randomly selected citizens will meet over nine sessions to discuss and propose solutions for how Sweden can meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. They are supported by experts and researchers from the FAIRTRANS research programme—including our project partners the University of Lund.
Read more here....Workshops at the Hungarian University of Physical Education
The GreenDependent Institute ran two Climate Puzzle workshops with full-time and distance learning students at the Hungarian University of Sport Science. The students enthusiastically explored how their personal lifestyle choices could be compatible with a 1.5°C future and asked pertinent questions about sustainable living.
Read more here...Primary school workshop in Potsdam, Germany
RIFS Potsdam engaged primary school students with the Climate Puzzle, teaching them about low-carbon lifestyle options in key areas of consumption. The students, especially the third graders, showed remarkable understanding and even suggested ways to reduce their school's carbon footprint.
Read more here...GreenDependent at eceee Summer Study 2024, France
GreenDependent participated in the eceee Summer Study in France, presenting research on citizen acceptance of 1.5°C lifestyles in Hungary and other EU countries. This event provided a platform to discuss Citizen Thinking Labs and the Climate Puzzle game with a diverse audience.
Read more here...Science fair for children in A Coruña, Spain
UDC brought the EU 1.5° Lifestyles project to a local science fair for children in A Coruña. Children explored sustainable lifestyle options through play.
Read more here...Continued community engagement in A Coruña
UDC hosted another successful Climate Puzzle workshop at the A Coruña Organic Market, where local participants explored how to integrate low-carbon lifestyle options into their daily lives. The team will repeat the event later in the year due to its popularity.
Read more here...- EU 1.5° lifestyles in the Austrian Parliament
At the Austrian Beyond Growth Conference, RIFS' Halliki Kreinin discussed ways to achieve a sustainable society, moving away from GDP growth as the primary societal goal. The project was also promoted at the 4Gamechangers Festival, where she participated in a panel discussion on degrowth and sustainable futures.
Read more here...
We are pleased that the EU 1.5° Lifestyles project is making progress in engaging citizens and policymakers across Europe in the transformation towards sustainable, low-carbon lifestyles. We look forward to sharing further updates as we continue to expand our efforts.
RIFS Potsdam